CyberPath

Find Your Place in Cybersecurity

From entry-level to CISO — explore every career path.

SOC Analyst

Blue Team

Monitor security alerts and investigate potential threats in real time.

Key Skills:

  • SIEM tools
  • Log analysis
  • Incident triage
Certs: Security+, CySA+
Salary: $55K – $140K

Incident Responder

Blue Team

Investigate active breaches and lead containment and recovery efforts.

Key Skills:

  • Digital forensics
  • Malware analysis
  • Network forensics
Certs: CySA+, GCIH
Salary: $70K – $180K

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Blue Team

Research threat actors and emerging attack techniques to inform defenses.

Key Skills:

  • OSINT
  • Threat modeling
  • Dark web monitoring
Certs: Security+, CEH
Salary: $75K – $190K

Threat Hunter

Blue Team

Proactively search for hidden threats inside the network before damage occurs.

Key Skills:

  • Behavioral analytics
  • Endpoint detection
  • Scripting
Certs: CySA+, OSCP
Salary: $90K – $200K

Penetration Tester

Red Team

Simulate cyberattacks to find and report security vulnerabilities.

Key Skills:

  • Kali Linux
  • Metasploit
  • Burp Suite
  • Scripting
Certs: CEH, OSCP
Salary: $70K – $200K

Vulnerability Management Analyst

Red Team

Continuously scan systems for known flaws and coordinate patching.

Key Skills:

  • Nessus
  • OpenVAS
  • Risk scoring (CVSS)
Certs: Security+, CySA+
Salary: $60K – $155K

Red Teamer

Red Team

Conduct full-scale covert adversarial simulations to stress-test incident response.

Key Skills:

  • Advanced exploitation
  • Social engineering
  • C2 frameworks
Certs: OSCP, CRTE
Salary: $100K – $250K

Security Engineer

Architecture

Design, implement, and maintain security controls, firewalls, and detection systems.

Key Skills:

  • Firewall config
  • IDS/IPS
  • System hardening
Certs: Security+, CISSP
Salary: $85K – $210K

Cybersecurity Architect

Architecture

Design the overarching security framework and infrastructure for an enterprise.

Key Skills:

  • Zero Trust
  • Risk modeling
  • Cloud platforms
Certs: CISSP, CCSP
Salary: $130K – $280K

Cloud Security Engineer

Architecture

Secure data, apps, and workloads running in cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and GCP.

Key Skills:

  • AWS/Azure/GCP
  • IAM
  • DevSecOps
Certs: AWS Security, CCSP
Salary: $100K – $240K

IAM Engineer

Architecture

Manage who has access to what resources inside an organization.

Key Skills:

  • Active Directory
  • Okta
  • SAML/OAuth
Certs: Security+, CISSP
Salary: $80K – $200K

Information Security Analyst

GRC

Assess an organization's security posture and implement security controls.

Key Skills:

  • Risk assessment
  • Policy writing
  • NIST/ISO 27001
Certs: Security+, CISM
Salary: $60K – $155K

Security Auditor

GRC

Evaluate systems for compliance with security policies and regulations.

Key Skills:

  • Audit frameworks
  • SOC 2/PCI
  • Gap analysis
Certs: CISA, CISM
Salary: $65K – $165K

Risk Management Specialist

GRC

Identify, track, and evaluate potential business risks related to data and IT.

Key Skills:

  • Risk registers
  • Business impact analysis
  • GRC platforms
Certs: CRISC, CISM
Salary: $70K – $180K

Malware Analyst

Specialized

Reverse-engineer malicious code to understand how it works.

Key Skills:

  • Reverse engineering
  • IDA Pro/Ghidra
  • Python
Certs: GCFE, CEH
Salary: $80K – $200K

Application Security Engineer

Specialized

Integrate security into the SDLC and audit code for vulnerabilities.

Key Skills:

  • SAST/DAST
  • OWASP Top 10
  • DevSecOps
Certs: CSSLP, OSCP
Salary: $90K – $220K

Digital Forensics Analyst

Specialized

Investigate digital devices and recover evidence for legal cases.

Key Skills:

  • EnCase/FTK
  • Chain of custody
  • Memory forensics
Certs: GCFE, CCE
Salary: $65K – $165K

CISO

Executive

Highest-ranking security executive, responsible for the full security strategy.

Key Skills:

  • Leadership
  • Budget management
  • Risk governance
Certs: CISSP, CISM
Salary: $200K – $400K+

CSO

Executive

Oversees both digital information security and physical security.

Key Skills:

  • Physical security
  • Crisis management
  • Leadership
Certs: CISSP, CPP
Salary: $180K – $350K+

Director of Security

Executive

Manages security teams and translates strategy into operational programs.

Key Skills:

  • Team leadership
  • Program management
  • Metrics
Certs: CISSP, CISM
Salary: $140K – $280K

Blue Team vs. Red Team vs. GRC

A quick look at the core career philosophies.

🛡️ Blue Team

Philosophy: "Build the wall, watch the wall, repair the wall."

Typical Day:

Analyzing alerts from SIEM, investigating suspicious activity, updating firewall rules, and documenting findings.

Pros & Cons:

  • Pro: High demand, direct impact on protection.
  • Con: Can be stressful, risk of alert fatigue.

⚔️ Red Team

Philosophy: "A good wall is one I can't get over. Let me try."

Typical Day:

Simulating phishing attacks, attempting to exploit web app vulnerabilities, writing detailed reports on findings for the blue team.

Pros & Cons:

  • Pro: Exciting, constantly learning new attack methods.
  • Con: Requires constant learning to stay ahead, can be high-pressure.

📜 GRC Team

Philosophy: "Here is the blueprint for the wall and the rules for using it."

Typical Day:

Interviewing department heads about data handling, preparing for a PCI audit, writing a new password policy.

Pros & Cons:

  • Pro: Excellent work-life balance, strong business focus.
  • Con: Less hands-on technical, can be heavy on documentation.